Depression Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and a need for further development, including a mental disorders examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including chronic adjustment disorder, depression, and/or PTSD is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD and major depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since November 24, 2009.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 50 percent disabling from August 5, 2002 to June 7, 2005. The Board denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and the issue of entitlement to a TDIU prior to June 8, 2005 remains on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded to determine if he was unemployable due to his service-connected disabilities from January 26, 2003 to September 10, 2012. The issue will be considered under both 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) and 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b).

The Veteran's PTSD and associated depressive disorder have been rated at 70 percent since February 20, 2013. His panic disorder has not resulted in any rating changes.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current acquired psychiatric disorder related to service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder had its onset during service and the Board finds that service connection is warranted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain missing VA treatment records for his PTSD, which may have an impact on the adjudication of his claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to military sexual trauma (MST) is being remanded as the Board finds that additional development, including a VA examination and notification under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5), is needed.

The Board found that the Veteran did not file a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) in response to the June 2006 denial of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. As such, the appeal was dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current psychiatric disorder, a Personality Disorder with a Superimposed Mood Disorder (Unspecified Depressive Disorder), is not service-connected as it existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's major depressive disorder is linked to his service, and thus grants service connection for this condition. The issue of whether the Veteran's PTSD is related to a confirmed in-service stressor remains pending.

The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with anxiety disorder has been rated at 50 percent since the grant of service connection, reflecting occupational and social impairment due to reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's psychiatric disorders, specifically a major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder, had their onset during service. As such, the criteria for service connection have been met.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding VA and private medical records, as well as a need for additional development of the claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, nightmare disorder, depression, insomnia, and anxiety is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for the issues of whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to service connection for a spine condition, entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition (including substance-induced mood disorder and depression), and entitlement to total disability rating based upon individual unemployability due to service connected disabilities (TDIU).

The Veteran's appeal for increased disability evaluation and TDIU was denied. The temporary total rating claim due to hospitalization in excess of 21 days was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, depression, dysthymic disorder, adjustment disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder is being remanded due to the need for a new examination under DSM-V criteria and clarification of the nature and etiology of her claimed conditions.